Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York, 1955

Coviello v. Hoffman Beverage Co.

Coviello v. Hoffman Beverage Co.
Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York · Decided February 17, 1955
207 Misc. 819; 140 N.Y.S.2d 423; 1955 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3148

Counsel

John P. Smith and John Nielsen for appellant., Harry Zeitlan and Herbert L. Fine for respondent.

Coviello v. Hoffman Beverage Co.

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam.

Plaintiff, a customer in defendant Grand Union’s store, was injured as a result of the bursting of a bottle of ginger ale which she had taken from a shelf and was carrying around the store in a cart with other articles. The Trial Justice erroneously charged that, despite custody and control in plaintiff, res ipsa loquitur applied. In addition, the jury was not given a clear definition of the proof required to hold defendant as a vendor of articles liable for negligence. A new trial, wherein plaintiff will be required to go forward with evidence of some negligent act or omission on defendant’s part, should be had.

*820The judgment should be reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event.

Hoestadter, Eder and Brady, JJ., concur.

Judgment reversed, etc.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.